Adoptable pets spread love, joy on Capitol Hill

A small dog visits the Cannon House Office Building Thursday wearing an \'Adopt Me\' sweater. The dog is one of 50 resuce animals who visited Capitol Hill to bring attention to the millions of pets awaiting adoption at shelters throughout the country. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)

WASHINGTON – Partisan gridlock was on pause this Valentine’s Day for a good cause on Capitol Hill.

“When I heard there were some dogs and cats in here I wanted to come by and see them,” says Florida Rep. Jeff Miller. “There are too many pets that don’t have a good home.”

Rescue groups from around the D.C. area brought more than 50 adoptable pets to the Cannon House Office Building Thursday to highlight the plight of millions of animals awaiting adoption at shelters throughout the country.

Some of these four-legged lobbyists were so small they would fit in the hand of a congressman. Others, like one great dane that weighed 145 pounds, were enormous.

“We need to all go adopt our animals and give those wonderful homeless animals a shot,” says Nancy Perry, senior vice president of ASPCA government relations.

Nationally, more than 7 million animals pass through shelters each year.

“It brings to light the fact that we have so many homeless animals,” says Glenda Dacosta, who brought the great dane. She works with a great dane rescue organization.